Counter-terror police launch investigation after ‘bare-chested man goes on anti-Muslim rampage’ in Edinburgh – as 36-year-old is arrested and Sir Keir Starmer condemns ‘appalling’ attack

Counter-terrorism police have launched an investigation after a 36-year-old white man was arrested for an alleged ‘anti-Muslim’ attack in Edinburgh.

Five people were injured in a series of anti-Muslim attacks believed to have taken place across the city.

Police Scotland said none of the injuries sustained were believed to be life-threatening. Two of the injured are 22 years old, the others are 24, 27 and 39 years old.

Two of the men are said to have been injured near the Broomhouse mosque in west Edinburgh and were later taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the BBC reported.

Sir Keir Starmer has since taken to X, describing recent events as ‘absolutely appalling’.

The Prime Minister wrote: ‘No one should be subjected to violence on our streets. The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this; he will face the full force of the law.

‘My thoughts are with those injured and I thank the police and emergency services for their intervention.’

Police first intervened in the incident at around 20.50 on Friday, describing it as a ‘series of rapidly moving events’.

Footage has emerged on social media showing a topless man vandalizing a petrol station on Telford Road and carrying a gun.

In the images taken a few kilometers away from the mosque, police officers can be seen as well as a taxi with broken windows.

In the footage, broken glass as well as a hand ax could be seen on the seat of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, other videos have also appeared online showing the same person causing chaos in other parts of the city.

CCTV showed the shirtless man standing next to a black vehicle with a smashed windshield before entering a petrol station in Ferry Road.

After entering the gas station, he was seen walking around multiple times and scattering items on the floor before pushing the shelves down.

People were later seen fleeing the Origano pizzeria in Leith Walk as the man approached, with panicked staff quickly closing their shutters.

Police Scotland said none of the injuries sustained were believed to be life-threatening. Two of the injured are 22 years old, the others are 24, 27 and 39 years old.

Sir Keir Starmer heads to X to condemn recent events in Edinburgh

The man was seen hitting the door with a gun several times before walking away.

A person was also seen approaching a vehicle stopped at a nearby intersection.

A separate video emerged online suggesting that large numbers of police and ambulances were at the scene as bystanders watched from behind police tape.

Paramedics were seen on the ground treating a clothed man whose arm appeared to be in a sling.

In another clip, a police officer is seen holding a bare-chested man on the ground as he shouts profanities and says he is ‘protecting the country’.

A 36-year-old white man was detained as Police Scotland and counter-terrorism police worked together in an ongoing investigation.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the incident.

He said: ‘I am deeply concerned by these events. There is no place for violence, racism and intolerance in our country.

‘I met with community groups last week and reassured them of the government’s strong support.’

Scottish Association of Mosques (SAM) spokesman Omar Afzal said there was a ‘deep sense of shock, alarm and anger’ in Muslim communities in Edinburgh and Scotland.

He said his organization was encouraging communities to ‘remain vigilant but not panic, continue to look out for each other and report any suspicious or hostile behavior to the police’.

“There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain said their community was concerned and ‘rightly concerned’.

A spokesman said: ‘This incident occurred shortly after racist pogroms targeting minority families on the streets of Belfast and is a direct result of political rhetoric that demonises entire communities.

‘To our community: be vigilant, look out for each other and please report Islamophobic hate crimes to the police.’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘A 36-year-old man was arrested following a series of incidents at various locations in the west of Edinburgh and Leith on the evening of Friday 19 June.

‘Four people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Investigations are ongoing but we believe there is no further risk to the public at this time. ‘We thank the citizens for their help.’

Deputy Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: ‘This was a shocking attack and my first thoughts are with those injured and those most directly affected.

‘I want to send a clear message of support to all our communities that there is no place for racism or faith-based hatred in Scotland, which is at its best when we stand together.

‘Officers responded to numerous reports of a rapidly developing series of events in Edinburgh before arresting a man and our priority was public safety. Extensive work is ongoing to determine all conditions.

‘We are supported by the Counter Terrorism Police and work under the direction of the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service.

‘I would like to thank our officers who responded with courage, professionalism and focus on protecting the public.

‘I am extremely grateful for the support and help from our communities and would urge anyone with any information to share this with police. ‘We have set up a major incident police portal.’

Anyone with information is asked to submit information using a form available online. Here.

The incident comes just months after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, London, and just weeks after a Sudanese man was arrested in Belfast following a horrific street attack on local man Stephen Ogilvie.

The victim lost an eye after being attacked with a knife, and the incident sparked mass riots in Northern Ireland and anti-immigrant protests that stretched as far as Glasgow.

In the Edinburgh incident, at around 8.50pm on Friday, locals began calling emergency services after spotting a bare-chested man prowling the streets, allegedly carrying a machete and axe, and shouting racist slurs.

It is understood two members of the Muslim community were injured near the Broomhouse Mosque in west Edinburgh and were later taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary. A second incident was reported a few miles away, where a taxi was smashed at a service station on Telford Road.

In the images after the incident, an ax covered with broken glass can be seen inside the back seat of the vehicle.

Footage on social media showed a man storming the door of a pizza shop in Leith Walk before police arrived and tackled him to the ground.

Viewers reported hearing racist language being shouted over a video showing a shirtless man lying on the ground saying “enough is enough” and “protecting the country from Muslims.”

Police confirmed that ‘a 36-year-old white Scottish man has been arrested and there is no further threat to the public’.

The force launched Operation Woodside to investigate the attacks and appealed for help from the public.

Irshad Ahmed, Labor MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, said: ‘What happened was completely unacceptable.

‘There is no place for hatred, racism, discrimination, intimidation and violence in our society.

‘We will not be divided by those who want to spread fear, hatred and mayhem. Our societies are stronger than this. ‘We stand together, united in our commitment to respect, safety and the values ​​that bring us together.’

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, added: ‘Racial violence motivated and targeted by hate has no place in our nation’s capital, it has no place anywhere. I’m glad no life was taken, but the situation could have been much worse.

‘There is no doubt that racism is encouraged and incited by senior politicians and online influencers; this reality represents the challenge of our time.

‘This just shows that the struggle for tolerance and multiculturalism is never truly over.’

A Scottish Conservative spokesman added: ‘Our thoughts are with those injured in this vile attack.

‘We thank the brave police officers who intervened quickly to protect the public.

‘There is no place for racism or faith-based violence in Scotland. The perpetrator must face the full weight of the law.’